SALAH SINKS RAFA
Egyptian delivers cutting edge in easy defeat of Newcastle
MO SALAH joined Harry Kane at the top of the Premier League scoring charts as Liverpool notched their tenth win in 13 games to leapfrog Manchester United into second place.
Salah put Liverpool ahead after 40 minutes when he transferred the ball from right foot to left before slotting home.
It was with his 24th league goal of the season, and 32nd in all. Liverpool’s superiority was reflected by a second goal after half-time from Sadio Mane as Newcastle were left hovering two points above the relegation zone.
Winnable home games against Southampton, Huddersfield and West Brom now look key for Rafa Benitez and his team after last night’s tactic of damage limitation was of no use. Certainly not to combat Salah, who must now be a serious rival to Kevin De Bruyne as the Premier League’s best performer this season.
With every point precious in the fight to avoid relegation, it was no surprise to see the black-and-white stripes lined up in organised fashion to try to stop Liverpool’s Fab Three of Roberto Firmino, Mane and Salah.
‘It was a difficult game, we knew it was going to be beforehand and we felt it during the game,’ said Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.
‘I thought the boys were brilliant and they did what they needed to do.
‘There were two wonderful goals, a few more were possible, and it was a world-class save from Loris Karius. He didn’t have much more to do than that. I’m happy.
‘Mo Salah is a very offensive midfielder, more of a striker than a holding player. He has this desire for scoring.’
Liverpool’s early possession saw them driven into cul-de-sacs, with Firmino miskicking wide after patient build-up had got his side nowhere.
Salah optimistically shouted for a penalty when his shot hit Paul Dummett’s hands. But referee Graham Scott could see the Newcastle defender was protecting his face.
The Egyptian then tried a halfvolley from the angle of the penalty area. In his current form, you would not have been surprised if it had burst the back of the net, but this time it found the side-netting.
Reds defender Dejan Lovren had the best chance of the opening half hour but the Croat headed into the ground when left unmarked at a corner.
Visiting goalkeeper Martin Dubravka was able to fist the ball back to Lovren, whose second attempt from six yards was smartly blocked by Mikel Moreno.
Salah then tried to wriggle his way into a shooting position after smart work by Emre Can and Firmino, but Florian Lejeune read it and blocked the shot.
It was Salah — of course — who applied the decisive first-half touch. Credit must go to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who surged goalwards and kept his composure while surrounded by three defenders, flicking a pass with the outside of his left boot to the Egyptian.
From there, it was inevitable that Salah would score as the ball slipped between the legs of Dubravka.
Newcastle did have a chance to level late in the first half, Mo Diame calling Karius into serious action for the first time and the German responding well with an acrobatic leap to tip over the shot.
Salah was on his bike again at the start of the second half and Dummett did exceptionally well to track back and concede a corner.
The Liverpool star was then visibly angry when a second penalty appeal for handball was turned down. This time he had more evidence as his shot travelled a distance before striking Jamaal Lascelles.
Liverpool’s second goal arrived after 55 minutes as the previouslyquiet Firmino and Mane stepped out of Salah’s shadow. Firmino released his pal with a clever pass into the penalty area and Mane opened his body and planted his finish into the corner.
In the visitors’ dugout, Benitez scribbled notes. He must have envied Klopp, having enjoyed the trappings of being a Liverpool manager himself from 2004-2010.
He added: ‘I am pleased with the fans. The Liverpool fans were really good for me.’
His Newcastle side looked as if they were playing for goal difference as there seemed no visible evidence they could fight their way back from 2-0 down. Playing five at the back with two holding midfielders had worked for a while, but not long enough.
The January loan signing of Leicester striker Islam Slimani, who still isn’t fit enough to play for Newcastle, looks more mysterious than ever. Their most physical available centre-forward, Joselu, was brought off the bench after 66 minutes with Gayle making away.
The Spaniard’s arrival saw Newcastle try to go the aerial route into the Liverpool penalty area. Unfortunately for them, Klopp’s £75million January signing Virgil van Dijk must be among the best headers of the ball in Europe.
Liverpool sent on Adam Lallana, with Mane getting a big ovation as he exited, and Benitez introducing Isaac Hayden.
Salah was then left frustrated in stoppage time, when he couldn’t believe he didn’t get a penalty after getting goalside of Lascelles, who shoved him over.